WOW! 'Home' in Pennsylvania

We have had so much change in the last month.  We are 'home' in Pennsylvania since we evacuated on April 4th.  WHat a whirlwind that was.  Sunday morning we thought that we were staying, by Monday morning we were buying tickets to fly out on Wed night.

We flew out of Bamako Wed evening, had a smooth flight to Brussels and then Washington before landing at the Harrisburg Airport early evening on the 5th. I was not realizing how much stress we were under til we experienced the rush of emotion on landing on US soil.  Brussels felt 'safe', but DC......  We were home! (and I splurged on a cup of Starbucks 'Coffee americain'.)
Warmly greeted by our 7 grandchildren, their parents (you see the order of preference there, don't you?  ;)) and several other family members at the Harrisburg Airport, we got hugs all around, cryed a few more tears, got out of the way when Julie spotted Megan Roper(her BFF) and there was a scream and mad rush into a hug, secured our luggage (PTL! It all arrived with us!) and headed to my sister's house nearby to eat and unwind.  Norma has a house that allows for several conversation groups to be going on at one time, all the while we 'grazed' around the kitchen counter of goodies everyone had brought. At 11pm EST, they pulled me away from a nonstop monologue (well a little bit of questioning from the listeners), our kids drove us 'home' to Roxbury Camp and we all dropped into bed. 

That was then!  This is now! 
3 weeks later we are pretty well settled into the 'Guest House' that we will occupy here at Roxbury Camp for the next month or so.  Following that, we expect to move to a slightly larger home next door that we will live in for the summer.  After that..... we will see what God has ordained! 

Julie is back in school at Chambersburg Area Senior High School, after seeing God's hand in opening up classes just where she needed them.  Ray has been getting some work to do here at the Camp where he was such a regular fixture for the past 26 years, and we will have housing thruout the summer, as well as that part time job.  God is good!  All the time!
A quick 'God story':  The guidance counselor tried to get into the computer system to register Julie for the fall- for her senior year, but was locked out.  I just quietly breathed a prayer to my God, "God, we just need is a little window here."  She decided to try one more time, and Voila!  She was in!  "H-m-m-m!" she says.  "Your prayer must have worked."  Thanks God!

We have been assessing our finances and job prospects, keeping apace of Reuters' and BBC's  Africa news, asking God, "What is our next assignment?", "When can we go back to Mali?", and "What do we do in the meantime?'  As a result, we are trying to plan for the summer and the next school year for Julie here in PA.  Ray is looking at using his years of plumbing and construction experience to do some plumbing/construction work, partnered with his Roxbury Camp parttime job. (Anyone have a project that needs done? I know a very experienced plumber who is available.  ; ))
Me??  I am seeing a ripe field of work that is laid out before me.  Interacting with some beautiful young ladies and pre-teens who are in need of a listening ear, and maybe even some 'mom' advice.  Well, maybe that will be 'gramma' advice. Godly advice that will hopefully reinforce what their own moms are trying to say to them.  In a word: Mentoring!

Isn't it fun (yes, it is also stressful sometimes, because I am impatient)  to see what God has planned?
GOD IS GOOD!  ALL THE TIME!!       ALL THE TIME!!!     GOD IS GOOD!!!!

Go, intentionally, with God today and prepare to bless and be a blessing.  You WILL be blessed in the process!
Mim, in PA at the moment but with a heart divided between here and Mali.